10 best women’s waterproof trousers for walking in all conditions

Stay dry, whatever the weather, with a tried-and-tested pair of rainproof pants

(Photo by Lacey Raper on Unsplash)

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Pack a good pair of waterproof over-trousers in your rucksack and you’ll be ready for adventures in any weather. The perfect waterproof trousers need to be comfortable, breathable and – you guessed it – completely waterproof. They’re usually designed to be pulled on over trekking trousers if the heavens open.

A dirt-cheap pair of waterproof bottoms, like the ones often sold at garages, will usually still be waterproof and can be useful in a pinch, but they are unlikely to be breathable. For hiking and working outdoors, you need something of better quality, and that allows you to move without overheating. Look for trousers that are labelled as breathable, as these can let moisture out without letting rain in, and a mesh-like inner lining is also good for wicking away sweat and keeping you cool.

Things to consider

When it comes to comfort, it’s a big help to try a few pairs of waterproof trousers on in person and to take along the trekking trousers or leggings you’d plan to wear underneath to make sure it’s comfortable to wear both together.

Look for an easily adjustable high waist, ideally with a drawstring. We prefer cuffs that can be adjusted to fit tightly around boots to stop rain and wind getting in – drawstrings or Velcro are best.

Look for trousers that have long zips along the sides from the cuffs up to the knee or the hip too – this makes them far easier to quickly pop on and off when it suddenly starts bucketing down. Two-way zips also allow you to make vents to wick away moisture if you’re hiking up a sweat. Pockets are always a useful addition.

Waterproofing

Waterproofing is the most essential feature of your new trousers, of course. Make sure your trousers are labelled “waterproof” rather than “water resistant”, as the latter is only usually good in a light shower.

For an item to be classed as waterproof, it needs to have a “hydrostatic head” rating (this is just a measure of their impermeability, and is measured in millimetres) of 1,500mm or more. We’d recommend 5,000-10,000mm for walking in bad weather, and 20,000mm for snow or for anyone regularly working outdoors in cold, rainy conditions.

You’ll also see trousers available that just list the waterproofing technology they use – if in doubt, GORE-TEX is always a reliable choice. On really cold days of light walking or working outdoors, good ski salopettes (which are also fully waterproof) will also do the job, keeping you both dry and warm.

The great trousers below are all female-specific models, which tend to offer a nicer fit, but if you’re not on the curvy side you may find that men’s waterproof trousers fit just as well. If your waterproofs eventually begin to let in water, you can re-waterproof them with wash-in treatments.

This isn’t something to scrimp on – a great pair of waterproof trousers is worth investing in, and with care they can last you a decade of wear in bad weather.

Peter Storm’s packable pants are like the Mac in a Sacs of the trouser world – cheap, cheerful and effective in sudden rain.

They don’t offer much breathability to speak of, and aren’t suited to trekking or outdoor sports, but if you just need to sling on waterproof bottoms for a festival, gardening or a dog walk, these are perfect, and make a great affordable backup pair of waterproofs. These have two pockets and can stuff into a small mesh sack, but have no side zips.

The Downpour is effective in – you guessed it – heavy rain, offering 5,000mm of waterproofing, which we found to be reliably fully waterproof on test. Taped seams also help keep everything watertight.

We liked the side vents, the inner mesh layer for wicking away sweat, and the generous sizing – great if you often find over-trousers constrictive. They do have an odd plastic-like smell when new though, and we would have liked an adjustable cuff. Nevertheless, they offer great protection for just under £30.

Another great quality option, and our favourite on test for a comfortable fit. The Pouring Adventure from Columbia is happy in any storm, and stays waterproof with no issues.

We liked the two decent-sized pockets and the generous side vents, which are both zipped and poppered to keep everything dry. When it comes to a comfortable fit over a long day of hiking, we were impressed with the wicking mesh inner lining, the cuffs, which are adjustable to fit with Velcro, and the comfortable and adjustable waistband.

Minimal by name and nature, these light-as-a-feather trousers weigh in at just 140g, so you’ll barely feel them on.

They’re designed specifically for trail runners and other fast-paced activities, and their light weight means they’re also ideal for backpacking and bike packing, folding down small into an included mesh bag for easy portability.

Articulated knees mean the Minimus isn’t restrictive when you move either. We found these best worn over leggings.

We usually look to Decathlon for good basic options at rock-bottom prices, but the more mid-priced Forclaz over-trousers impressed us on test. We like the slim fit, the smart grey and black design, which is a shade more exciting to wear than plain black, and the reinforced knees and bum panels – ideal for camping and outdoor use.

The Forclaz pack an impressive 10,000mm of waterproofing, which withstood miserable British downpours. There are side zips for ventilation and easy dressing, and press studs at the waist and ankles for adjusting the fit. As these are snug, they’re best worn over trekking tights.

We really rate Patagonia’s lightweight Torrentshell waterproof jackets, and these great trousers would make the ideal pairing. They’re simple, lightweight and easy to pack down into their own pocket, which comes complete with a carabiner for attaching them to a backpack.

There are also two handy pockets, adjustable stretchy cuffs and decent side zips for pulling the trousers on over boots or getting a bit of extra ventilation. Star eco points go to the Torrentshell too, as they’re made from recycled materials.

This is simple, fuss-free waterproofing from The North Face. The Resolve is both waterproof and breathable, with sealed seams that can withstand heavy rain and the ability to wick away moisture, even if you’re hiking hard.

The waistband is easy to adjust to fit with a drawcord, and we like that the Resolve is available in different leg lengths (short, regular or long), as it’s ideal if you don’t always fit a standard size.

If you want a fuss-free, streamlined trouser that fits your shape, these are a good choice.

The excellent Firewall looks rather bulky but actually feels very comfortable on, and has been designed with trekking in mind to provide freedom of movement as you hike. Zips to mid-thigh make it easy to get them on and off too, and we liked the high waistband and the under-boot loops on the cuffs for wear with hiking boots.

The Firewall offers beautiful quality all round, and they feel like they will last for years of regular use.

A bit intimidated by the sea of seemingly identical, invariably black waterproof trousers on sale? Berghaus’ Paclite is our pick of the pack.

These trousers are fully waterproofed with GORE-TEX and can take the nastiest weather. They have a comfortable high waist, adjustable cuffs and side zips that open almost to the waistband, making them quick and easy to pull on and off.

They also pack down small enough to fit into a small mesh stuff sack that you can chuck in a rucksack or clip onto a bag. Berghaus’ lifetime guarantee also means that they’ll repair or replace the Paclite for free if you have any issues with their waterproofness.

The H5 is a bit of an anomaly on this list. Firstly, it’s only labelled “water resistant”, although we found its GORE-TEX technology did keep us fully dry in steady rain.

What the H5 is really designed for though is outdoor sports where you might get caught in bad weather – these trousers are highly breathable, and so well cut that they move as you do, making them ideal for climbing, trekking and other outdoor sports where you’re sweating but still need protection from wind and rain.

They look and feel great to wear, with a comfortable stretch waistband, drawstring cuffs, two pockets and reinforced knees.

Our ibuys experts give impartial advice on a range of products after testing them in real-world conditions. Prices are correct at the time of publishing but may vary slightly afterwards. If you would like to suggest a product to test or have a question related to ibuys, please email us on [email protected]

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